Seizure from Duraimurugan residence: CEO reports to EC

CHENNAI: Chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo has sent a detailed report to the Election Commission on the seizure of Rs 10.5 lakh on March 29 from DMK treasurer S Duraimurugan’s residence at Katpadi in Vellore Lok Sabha constituency where his son, Kathir Anand, is the party candidate. The report also covers the seizure of Rs 11.48 crore from the godown of DMK functionary Poonjolai Srinivasan at Katpadi on April 1.

Asked whether the election would be postponed in Vellore, Sahoo said, “It is for the EC to decide”.

DMK plans to move HC if poll is countermanded

Sources in the EC told TOI that it was waiting for the CEO’s report. “Though I-T department has sent two reports, the EC wanted a report from the CEO before taking any decision,” said a senior EC official.

The DMK is planning to move court if the election is put off.

“We have received the report from the district electoral officer as well as from the Income Tax investigation wing. While Income Tax department has already sent a detailed report on the money seizure from Vellore to the EC, we have put together the reports from the DEO as well as the I-T department and sent it to the EC,” said Sahoo.

Vellore police had on Wednesday filed FIRs against Anand and two DMK functionaries, Damodaran and Poonjolai Srinivasan, based on the I-T report. Cases have been registered under IPC sections 171(E) for bribery, 171 (B) for trying to influence voters by giving money and 125 (A) of the Representation of the People Act for giving wrong information in the affidavit enclosed along with the nomination papers.